Interesting Lincoln Dates/Mints where MS65 is the highest grade that exists (no 66's or higher)
WingedLiberty1957
Posts: 2,998 ✭✭✭✭✭
It's interesting to me how some Lincoln date/mint combos are so rare in high grades. I was always fascinated by Lincoln dates/mints that have no pcgs 66’s or higher in any color class (BN, RB, or RD). There are only 4 Lincoln dates/mints that fall in that “No Known 66 or higher” category (in pcgs plastic) in the entire series:
- 1921-S
- 1923-S
- 1926-S
- 1927-S
No too surprising that they are all early S mints and that they plow through the 1920s. That's a brutal period.
I always wondered what happened in those years. Were no pristine Lincolns saved, wonder why? Maybe fewer coin collectors out west back then? I have heard some talk that SF got used hubs and/or dies for some of those years? Which might be why the strikes tend to be so soft in the D and S mints in the 1920's.
I know the S mintages were relatively lower than P or D mints in general for those years, but still we are talking about over 5+ million coins! That’s a lot.
Mintages:
21s = 15 million
23s = 9 million
26s = 5 million
27s = 14 million
Still you’d think an original mint roll might have survived somehow for some of these dates.
Comments
I have an 18s in 66BN
My Collection of Old Holders
Never a slave to one plastic brand will I ever be.
Thanks WL. Great stuff as always on early Lincolns. I like your 18-s. Why no high grades is anyone's guess, but finding one fully struck on both sides is rare - as you pointed out, just look at Coinfacts. When I picked mine up, it was the best struck one I had ever seen. I thought it was a lock 65 - our new tighter grading hosts disagreed - fortunately Mr. JA agreed and applied a gold bean.
https://pcgs.com/setregistry/showcase/2819
gorgeous 18s!
My Coin Blog
My Toned Lincoln Registry Set
In fact the only date you listed is 1921-S with none graded higher than MS65, all the other dates have at least one at MS66.
My Collection of Old Holders
Never a slave to one plastic brand will I ever be.
I rechecked the pcgs pop report. you are right 18s does have a 66, i fixed my OP.
My Coin Blog
My Toned Lincoln Registry Set
It certainly seems to indicate either process or quality issues during that period at the S mint....Cheers, RickO
But now my post looks silly for commenting on your phantom 18-s and posting mine..
https://pcgs.com/setregistry/showcase/2819
That's a beautiful 1918-S!!
- Bob -
MPL's - Lincolns of Color
Central Valley Roosevelts
Well, you might enjoy this, my 1921-S ex: Abe's Coloring Book that is MS65+BN PCGS. There are only 9 others in 65BN. There is one MS65+RB and no MS65+RDs or MS66 at all, so far anyway. This is cert #83734178. Pretty cool coin. The few 1921-S cents I have had tend to not stick around too long.
Kind regards,
George